COP28 under fire - 27th November 2023

COP, the UN's yearly convention on climate change, has come under fire even before it's kicked off. The 28th Conference of the Parties - COP ─ will be held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, one of the world's top oil producers.

Calling for a 'phase down' rather than a blanket 'phase out' of fossil fuels, Conference President Sultan Al Jaber is also the CEO of the country's national oil company.

For campaigners such as Greta Thunberg, endeavours by the UN and COP to include fossil fuel companies, major culprits of CO2 emissions, stymies any advances made on climate change. It's sparked protests for meaningful action internationally, with protestors blocking roads and even damaging works of art.

As the planet's on track for 2.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, already one degree above the goal agreed in the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, it's no surprise that many are disillusioned.

Young Kenyan climate activist Eric Njuguna, a panellist at COP27, has denounced COP28 and its management, warning "I think history records will show that in 2023 for COP 28, metaphorically speaking, we let a mosquito lead the fight against malaria. It's a stab in the back for communities bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, but also the future generations who will be affected adversely."

COP27 committed to establishing a Loss and Damage' fund, to support those communities Njuguna highlighted, financially impoverished countries with low greenhouse gas emissions, which are disproportionately damaged by climate change fuelled disasters. This year's delegates will debate the fund's terms, since the amount to be paid by global north nations - producers of 92 percent of global emissions - has yet to be determined.

Climate envoy John Kerry's announcement that the United States will "under no circumstances" pay reparations for climate change related crises has led some to speculate that the fund might not materialise.

With meteorological data revealing 2023 to be the hottest year on record, the urgent call for states and private enterprises to take purposeful steps is without doubt. The question remains, will they answer the call or simply pretend to pick up?